Should we grow old gracefully?

Question

Personally:

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other peoples' gardens
And learn to spit.
You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickles for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked

I would love to say that I wrote this poem, but it is actually by a woman called Jenny Joseph. The Poem is called 'Warning'.
Im glad you all enjoyed it as much as I do though...

Answer 1

Dylan Thomas said it best:
"Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

"

Answer 2

I have every intention of being the mad, bad, potty, everyone's favourite Auntie! Oh - I already am!

Life should not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well-preserved attractive body, but rather to skid in sideways chocolates in one hand, champagne in the other thoroughly worn out, screaming "Woo Hoo - what a ride"!

If you can't set a good example, then be a horrible warning!

Answer 3

I have seen this poem before, if not this one, one almost identical, we read it in the 6th.form at school. I shall be exactly like this lady, except it will be jeans and stiletto-heel boots. Who said grandmothers had to be old and ugly? Who said they can`t ride cross-bar on a bike etc etc?There is no intention on my part ever to grow old and grey in mind or body.

Answer 4

That's cute... but who says you can do some of those very English things now? What does butter and saten sandals have to do with anything. Also if you eat three poounds of sausage when you're old you WILL say hello to hemorrhoids...

Answer 5

Excellent! Just like you, I'm intending on being granny from hell. My dad is 73 and he really became the old fella from hell and the authorities wouldn't even throw the bugger into prison because he is 'old and frail'. What a load of horsefeathers! They can get away with anything (well, almost).

Answer 6

WOW! Who wrote this? One would have to imagine it was you, from your presentation.
I'm kooky anyway, at 29, and sometimes entertaining for it, and sometimes eschewed. Oh, well!
So, no, don't grow old gracefully, don't practice now.
BE now.
My boyfriend loves to quote from a show I don't even know- "If i could be,
If I could be for just an hour,
If I could be for just an hour everyday,
Cute, Cute, Cute
in a stupid *** way."
LIVE NOW!
Or for your stress, your heart disease won't let you walk outside and spit and pick other people's flowers at all!

Answer 7

I think so. Most of us do; it's mainly Hollywood that gives another impression.

I like to believe that even if I had money to burn on plastic surgery I would choose not to do anything. Good thing that theory is unlikely to be put to the test!

Answer 8

If you get the opportunity to grow old - and let's face it, many don't - then you have earned the right to do it your own way. Provided that is within the law and doesn't overly impinge on another's freedoms.

Answer 9

I love that poem and I intent carrying on her good work and growing old disgracefully and having fun just like she suggests.

Answer 10

Wonderful prose! Send it in to a magazine, they must be aching for stuff like this. Good luck!